Google to release Gmail?

Some Gmail users have received more than 50 invitations to Gmail this week. This could mean that Google is planning to release Gmail, without needing to be invited first.

A Google spokesman confirmed Friday that some users of the service were getting an increased number of invitations, saying it was part of Google's continuing efforts to expand the service. The spokesman, however, wouldn't provide any information about when Google might bring Gmail out of its test phase into general release.